[HPFGU-Movie] Sets and Locations

[TACtalk at adelanta.co.uk]

Leaping to attention at the mention of one of my favourite hobby horses in
the movies.

Richard said:-

>Alnwick was used for the Quidditch pitch and the Hogwarts grounds.

Alnwick was used in the scene from PS/SS where Wood teaches Harry about
Quidditch, when the kids are learning to fly, when Hagrid drags the
Christmas tree across the courtyard, and all exterior shots which required
a castle background. The Quidditch match in PS/SS was SPFX set against a
background of Glen Nevis. I'm not sure whether they used the same spot in
CoS, but it wasn't filmed at Alnwick, AFAIK.

Alnwick featured far more in PS/SS than CoS; in the latter, it was really
only used for the arrival scene, when Harry and Ron, having been ditched by
the Ford Anglia, chase it though the courtyard before it disappears into
the Forest.

I think the point that the previous post had in mind was that the Whomping
Willow features importantly in PoA, and it would seem to be a little
strange to use another location as the background to the WW. However, the
sequence in PoA is considerably more complex than that in CoS; the WW has
to open up for people to go in and out, so the movie makers have presumably
determined that to build such a set at Alnwick would be difficult and
expensive; plus, if a lot of filming is required around the WW, there would
be added difficulties. Alnwick Castle is, after all, open to the public,
and lengthy filming there could cause them problems with their opening
hours. I would imagine that a backdrop of Alnwick Castle will be digitally
inserted as required.

Richard again:-
>Durham Cathedral was used for some of the cloister shots (the main ones
>were in Gloucester) and I don't think I've read anything about not filming
>in Gloucester; besides there probably won't be many shots in those areas.

Durham Cathedral cloisters featured strongly in both films; in CoS
particularly when Ron tries to curse Malfoy and ends up spitting slugs;
when the kids are talking about Hagrid perhaps being the one who opened the
Chamber, and they are interrupted by Hagrid himself; when the kids are
walking along discussing the possibility of Malfoy being the Heir of
Slytherin, and of course the scene in McGonagall's classroom, which is in
fact the Chapter House at Durham.

However, I noticed that a set was built for CoS *based on* the cloisters at
Durham. They used it for the corridor outside Dumbledore's study, and
possibly for the scene where Harry finds Justin and Nearly Headless Nick
petrified. Perhaps they intend to use the same set instead of setting up a
film unit at Durham itself for PoA.

I think that the hospital in CoS was a set, btw.

Richard:-
>GulPlum AKA Richard, who doesn't know which is the worse prospect: Columbus
>directing or of Kloves writing GoF... Together, they're an abomination.

Uh-huh; you also said the other day that you didn't think the kids did a
particularly good job in CoS. May one ask, therefore, why you have seen the
film...what...30 times?
:-)

Regards,
Nicholas